Some contributions from the sciences to the investigation of artworks

Abstract

The scientific study of an artwork can help clarify many aspects of its history, from its execution to the present time. A detailed characterization of the materials used helps art historians and art experts complement stylistic and documentary data, allowing them to estimate a date, an authorship and any changes the artwork may have undergone over time, as well as to identify forgeries.
The description of the common approaches in this type of research focuses on the artworks’ medium (stone, wood, metal, glass, pottery, bone or ivory, fabric, and graphic documents) and their decoration (distributed by potential layers of preparation, painting, and protection). The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are presented on a case-by-case basis.